TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus

[brehon]

Two months ago TCL launched Nxtpaper 11 Plus, an update to Nxtpaper 11. Seems that release went under the radar as device is barely known. The updates over Nxtpaper 11 are bit bigger 120Hz screen with more square aspect ratio and better color reproduction in NXTPAPER 4.0 technology. Beside that it has stronger hardware specs, Android 15 and new "AI" functions. It's around EUR250 on Euro Amazon with pen and cover(under EUR200 in some other online stores), and there's a cheaper version without extras.

Given the lack of reviews and interest, did anyone try it yet and could give any insight? How does it compare to previous Nxtpaper devices(11, 14, etc.)? How is brightness under the sun? How does overall reading experience compare to other reading devices?

I'm considering purchase myself but don't want to be guinea pig.

[DrChiper]

Originally Posted by brehon

Two months ago TCL launched Nxtpaper 11 Plus, an update to Nxtpaper 11. Seems that release went under the radar as device is barely known.

Yes, it escaped certainly me, but here and here it is.

Originally Posted by brehon

Given the lack of reviews and interest, did anyone try it yet and could give any insight? How does it compare to previous Nxtpaper devices(11, 14, etc.)? How is brightness under the sun? How does overall reading experience compare to other reading devices?

Well, try one to find out. TCL Nxtpaper series are great value for their money. I've the previous version and am a happy user. Would I by the PRO? Perhaps, when I can convince the lady of the house to spend the money. That said, the current one is still working perfect and regularly updated.

Originally Posted by brehon

I'm considering purchase myself but don't want to be guinea pig.

Everyone using some kind of computer powered device IS a guinea pig and unpaid tester at that.

[Quoth]

If you need PDFs, then the Nxtpaper 14 is better, it's 14.25″

I have the earlier approx 16:10 Nxtpaper 11 and the 3:2 Nxtpaper 14.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by DrChiper

Everyone using some kind of computer powered device IS a guinea pig and unpaid tester at that.

Especially if using Microsoft. They ditched most of QA & Test.

[DrChiper]

It seems to be missing (according the manual which does not mention it) an SD card tray for microSD's to extend the internal 250GB storage, which is certainly a disappointment for me.
However the manual does specify lower specs than are presented on the website of TCL itself (such as Android 13 compared to Android 15). The manual might not be up-to-date. And it might be located on the underside of which no pictures can be found however

UPDATE: The Nxtpaper 12 Plus and 14 do not seem to have memory extension possibilities either and limited to 250GB. Can you confirm that @Quoth?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by DrChiper

UPDATE: The Nxtpaper 12 Plus and 14 do not seem to have memory extension possibilities either and limited to 250GB. Can you confirm that @Quoth?

My original Nxtpaper 11 (not Pro, approx 10.9″ 16:10 aspect) and NxtPaper 40 4G phone have 3.5mm jack sockets and microSD Card slots.

My Nxtpaper 14 (approx 14.25″ 3:2 aspect) only has USB-C. No other slots or sockets. Best thing ever for portable PDFs, using Pocketbook.

So I'd use the Nxtpaper 11 for everything else (512G SD card) and it's easier to use for notes (using MyWrite's Nebo; the Kobo version is crippled partially due to eink).

I have a 256 G card with the 256G internal NxtPaper 40 phone which is good for audiobooks and music (Musicolet for DRM free) and ebooks. Mighht get a 2nd Nxtpaper phone to replavce the Oppo phone I take out of the house. You need two phones now if one has important 2FA, because it can't safely leave the house. Both unregistered anonymous SIMs which is more secure from fraud (O2 lets people transfer number to a new SIM without existing phone and minimal checks! So no account is safer!).

It is a bit odd there is no SD card expansion on the Nxtpaper 14. However 256 G is a lot of PDFs. I find WiFi and Total Commander with SMB plugin (free) to my server 10x to 30x faster to copy files from my Linux server than MTP.

Pocketbook App also can WiFi connect to Calibre Content Server using OPDS. Only check one checkbox at install on free version and then there are no Adverts (EU anyway). It's on all my compatible Android devices for epubs and PDFs. Does two page landscape PDFs in correct page order (many apps don't). The first page must be on the right for LtoR documents, so 2nd & 3rd pages are L & R spread.

[brehon]

Originally Posted by DrChiper

Yes, it escaped certainly me, but here and here it is.

There are no real reviews, websites like notebookcheck or pcmag are silent and all I can find is just poorly formatted promo material.

Well, try one to find out. TCL Nxtpaper series are great value for their money. I've the previous version and am a happy user. Would I by the PRO? Perhaps, when I can convince the lady of the house to spend the money. That said, the current one is still working perfect and regularly updated.

I've bought "Nxtpaper 11" few months ago, but had to return because it had horrible screen uniformity issues(very visible when using white static background). Technically it was okay but far from perfect, so I've decided to wait for "Nxtpaper 11 Plus" to roll out and then decide between "Nxtpaper 11 Plus" or "Nxtpaper 14". Now we're like 2 months after release and product is still relatively unknown.

The Nxtpaper 12 Plus and 14 do not seem to have memory extension possibilities either and limited to 250GB. Can you confirm that @Quoth?

From what I know they don't have SD slots, at least in configurations sent to EU. But knowing TCL, it's very possible that they could release SD/LTE versions for other markets.

Originally Posted by Quoth

If you need PDFs, then the Nxtpaper 14 is better, it's 14.25″

I have the earlier approx 16:10 Nxtpaper 11 and the 3:2 Nxtpaper 14.

Yes, I want to read pdfs.

"Nxtpaper 11 Plus" is supposedly also 3:2 device, hence I prefer it over 16:10 "Nxtpaper 11". As for "Nxtpaper 14", one thing that worries me is that it weights 760 grams with relatively large size (leverage issues). Do you hold it in your hands when reading or use stand or some kind hand-strap/holding assistance? And is it comfortable?


And btw, I've read in other topic that you own "Likebook Mars". I'm considering it as my second device for pdfs, but with outdoors portability in mind. Would it even be considerable? Maybe there are better portable e-ink choices for outdoors? I was even considering "Kindle Paperwhite 3/4" with 6" screen as I'm currently using normal LCD phone.

[DrChiper]

Originally Posted by brehon

There are no real reviews, websites like notebookcheck or pcmag are silent and all I can find is just poorly formatted promo material.

Most reviews I've seen in the past emphasize on the very same features like they were following a scripted scenario, spiced with some random remarks. The real reviewer will be yourself

Originally Posted by brehon

I've bought "Nxtpaper 11" few months ago, but had to return because it had horrible screen uniformity issues(very visible when using white static background). Technically it was okay but far from perfect, so I've decided to wait for "Nxtpaper 11 Plus" to roll out and then decide between "Nxtpaper 11 Plus" or "Nxtpaper 14". Now we're like 2 months after release and product is still relatively unknown.

Knowing TCL you should grab their devices when and where you can. I've never seen any real shop announcements. They are silently made available. One week ago I could score one on amazon for €229, which was increased to €243 after it was mentioned on this site. Coincidence?

Originally Posted by brehon

From what I know they don't have SD slots, at least in configurations sent to EU. But knowing TCL, it's very possible that they could release SD/LTE versions for other markets.

The original Nxtpaper 11 was featuring 4 or 6GB RAM. Never ever seen a 6GB one though. However, after the last 2 upgrades I can now use 4 + 4GB (last "borrowed" from my 128GB storage). They do the same trick for the Nxtpaper 11 Plus: 8 + 8GB or 12 + 8GB. I'm curious whether the 12GB ever will become available. We'll see.

[JSWolf]

How well does the TCL NXTPAPER do outdoors in the sun?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How well does the TCL NXTPAPER do outdoors in the sun?

Depends on version. Nxtpaper 1.0 wasn't good according to reviews. My Nxtpaper 2 and Nxtpaper 3 are fine. Certain sunglasses will make the display go black at particular rotations. May be an issue with many phones and tablets because inherently LCD is polarised and some OLED panels have polarisers to reduce reflections.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by brehon

…

Yes, I want to read pdfs.

"Nxtpaper 11 Plus" is supposedly also 3:2 device, hence I prefer it over 16:10 "Nxtpaper 11". As for "Nxtpaper 14", one thing that worries me is that it weights 760 grams with relatively large size (leverage issues). Do you hold it in your hands when reading or use stand or some kind hand-strap/holding assistance? And is it comfortable?


And btw, I've read in other topic that you own "Likebook Mars". I'm considering it as my second device for pdfs, but with outdoors portability in mind. Would it even be considerable? Maybe there are better portable e-ink choices for outdoors? I was even considering "Kindle Paperwhite 3/4" with 6" screen as I'm currently using normal LCD phone.

For years (2002 to 2016) my Inspiron i8200 was my best portable thing for PDFs due to 1600 x 1200 screen. The so-called FHD of 1920 x 1080 is poorer in landscape, and not enough for A4!
BUT!

As light as 7.64lbs (a heavy 3.5 kg) and 1.7″ thin (a thick 43mm) when closed-it's convenient to carry and store.

(my parenthesis) Assuming you didn't replace the floppy in the Media Bay with a second battery pack or an HDD (both possible).

If you need PDFs, then the 14″ with 3:2 aspect is far better than 11″ with 3:2 aspect and very very much better than any 10″ or 11″ with a 16:10 aspect.

Even if it was twice as heavy, I'd not care. You rarely read much standing up.

I first used a "personal" computer in 1979 and PDFs arrived in about 1992 (about the same time as first websites). I've thus been waiting a long time for the Nxtpaper 14. I feel I was conned into buying the "remaindered" priced reduced DXG when I already had a Paperwhite. The DXG is useless for PDFs, other than ones that work on a 6″ 300 dpi reader better. Though 9.7" you can't crop margins and it's only 9.7". I thought the Elipsa would be the solution, and the notes was nice but it couldn't be used for old magazines and it was slow & heavy for notes. I bought the Sage two or three weeks later, and though only 8″, it's got more pixels so is better for PDFs. Forget the Mars or 7″ models for PDFs (I have both), even though native reader on Mars crops margins and the Kobo reader now has per document PDF crop (so I uninstalled KOReader).
I also had a 10.3″ reMarkable (little difference 1 or 2) and it's rubbish for ebooks, worse than Elipsa for PDFs, notes or file transfer. I've given away the Elipsa and reMarkable. No-one wants the abysmal DXG.

My Sage is favorite for ebooks, and the 16:10 Nxtpaper 11 is a bit better for notes than the Nxtpaper 14 due to size and weight. The Kobo version of Nebo notes is very cut down and crippled compared to Android on NxtPaper, partly because of eink. The Google Gboard off-line handwriting to text is unusable on Android eink Mars, but works fine on any of my phones with a finger. Works even better on Nxtpaper 40 phone and with stylus or finger on Nxtpaper tablets.

Forget about Android eink and less than 8″ 300 dpi for PDF (works for A5 instruction books etc).

I'm glad I never wasted the money on the 13″ approx Sony/Fujitsu DPT eink.

[Quoth]

I actually bought a 16″ QHD portable screen for my most recent 17″ Lenovo laptop as 1920 x 1080 it was poorer for PDFs than my 2002 laptop with 15.6″ 1600 x 1200 screen. Oddly it was also a poorer screen than my 2016 15″ 1920 x 1080 Lenovo laptop. Why did they have no low glare QHD 17″ screen laptops?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I actually bought a 16″ QHD portable screen for my most recent 17″ Lenovo laptop as 1920 x 1080 it was poorer for PDFs than my 2002 laptop with 15.6″ 1600 x 1200 screen. Oddly it was also a poorer screen than my 2016 15″ 1920 x 1080 Lenovo laptop. Why did they have no low glare QHD 17″ screen laptops?

My laptop is a 17" 2560x1440. I quite like the screen.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

My laptop is a 17" 2560x1440. I quite like the screen.

Yes, my last laptop should have been that. That's the same as my portable 16" screen. So-called FHD (1920 x 1080) is only minimum TV HD (720 is barely HD and why are they still selling 32" TVs only 720? Regular PAL was 576!) and it's an insult to sell computer screens larger than 10" at 1920 x 1080. We had better than that nearly 30 years ago on computers!

https://xkcd.com/732/

Though at normal TV viewing distance (more than 2m vs about 0.3m for laptop/desktop) HDTV resolution is good enough even at 55″. My desktop 23″ 4K (3840 x 2160) is better than 32″ at the same distance (I found 32″ too wide at my idea reading glasses distance). Our 55″ lounge TV is 4K, but the content is 1080, 720, 576 or 480 (US import DVDs) depending on source unless the laptop is connected, and then you'd have sit less than half the normal distance to notice, or read the default size text.

You do notice the difference between decent Europe/Australia DVDs (576) vs any USA DVDs (480p) even on 28" CRT TV, also S-VHS mono 625 line vs regular VHS 625 line recordings even on a 14" CRT. However the 55″ screen upscales USA 480 and VHS PAL/576 content quite well compared to our older 42″ HD screen

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Yes, my last laptop should have been that. That's the same as my portable 16" screen. So-called FHD (1920 x 1080) is only minimum TV HD (720 is barely HD and why are they still selling 32" TVs only 720? Regular PAL was 576!) and it's an insult to sell computer screens larger than 10" at 1920 x 1080. We had better than that nearly 30 years ago on computers!

https://xkcd.com/732/

Though at normal TV viewing distance (more than 2m vs about 0.3m for laptop/desktop) HDTV resolution is good enough even at 55″. My desktop 23″ 4K (3840 x 2160) is better than 32″ at the same distance (I found 32″ too wide at my idea reading glasses distance). Our 55″ lounge TV is 4K, but the content is 1080, 720, 576 or 480 (US import DVDs) depending on source unless the laptop is connected, and then you'd have sit less than half the normal distance to notice, or read the default size text.

You do notice the difference between decent Europe/Australia DVDs (576) vs any USA DVDs (480p) even on 28" CRT TV, also S-VHS mono 625 line vs regular VHS 625 line recordings even on a 14" CRT. However the 55″ screen upscales USA 480 and VHS PAL/576 content quite well compared to our older 42″ HD screen

My laptop is called QHD. My 65" OLED TV is 4K. If my laptop was 4K, it would be too mall for the screen size. It would be OK to watch video, but not for normal computer use.

I do find it annoying that a lot of laptops have settled for FHD. There was one big difference between US and UK TV back before HD. That was that the refresh rate of UK TVs was worse then that of US TVs. So UK TVs flickered more.